as in to tease
to attack repeatedly with mean put-downs or insults
the principal reminded the student athletes that taunting their opponents was not showing good sportsmanship
Synonyms & Similar Words
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as in jeer
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of taunt
Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 21 Mar. 2026
Both would be well advised to do the jobs they were elected to do rather than taunt ICE and hope that the media will look at ICE rather than scrutinize them and the job the two are doing, or not doing.
—Peter Lucas, Boston Herald, 19 Mar. 2026
Devon Henderson, New York Times, 7 Feb. 2026
Cornyn’s campaign responded with a taunt over Paxton’s divorce and cheating scandal.
—Sarah Bahari, Dallas Morning News, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for taunt
Verb
Robinson picked up a technical foul for taunting after Nets rookie guard Nolan Traore appeared to undercut the Knicks’ big man on an alley-oop with roughly three minutes left in the second quarter.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 21 Mar. 2026
Both would be well advised to do the jobs they were elected to do rather than taunt ICE and hope that the media will look at ICE rather than scrutinize them and the job the two are doing, or not doing.
—Peter Lucas, Boston Herald, 19 Mar. 2026
Noun
McMillan, a man of Polynesian descent, stood, adrenaline still surging, and fired back with a taunt, using the N-word.
—Devon Henderson, New York Times, 7 Feb. 2026
Cornyn’s campaign responded with a taunt over Paxton’s divorce and cheating scandal.
—Sarah Bahari, Dallas Morning News, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for taunt
Recent Examples of Synonyms for taunt
Verb
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Muller also indicated there were even more crimes — but only teased the details in his letters.—
Lauren Clark,
CBS News,
29 Mar. 2026
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The president has teased an endorsement, but hasn’t announced his preferred candidate.—
Eleanor Dearman,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Giovanni Simeone leveled shortly before halftime, when some jeers rang out from the home fans.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
21 Mar. 2026
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In an era in high school sports where boos, jeers, and uncalled-for chants are the status quo, Shelton steers fans to uplift rather than put down.—
Charles Baggarly,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
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In vivid, dramatic language more befitting of a pulp novel accompanied by fanciful illustrations, the story said that reports of monsters first started surfacing in Canada, only to be met with mocking dismissal in Chicago.—
Adam Harrington,
CBS News,
1 Apr. 2026
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This festival featured carnivals that included music, costumes, and mocking church rituals.—
Paula Soria,
AZCentral.com,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
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From the sneer of Billy Idol to the smooth sashaying of Sade, the 2026 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nominees amplify the institution’s commitment to recognizing a diverse slate.—
Melissa Ruggieri,
USA Today,
25 Feb. 2026
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Valarr asks Ser Duncan with a sneer.—
Noel Murray,
Vulture,
23 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Laughs and insults, all expressed at a high volume, were guaranteed to follow.—
Chris Perkins,
Sun Sentinel,
31 Mar. 2026
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The fan repeatedly shouted insults at Punk while pledging allegiance to Reigns.—
Andrew Ravens,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Mamdani hit back at Tuberville’s jibe, which falsely suggested that Mamdani or Muslims support terrorism.—
Dave Goldiner,
New York Daily News,
13 Mar. 2026
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Carr’s jibe struck me as weirdly TV-centric, in a very Trumpian sense.—
Jon Allsop,
New Yorker,
26 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Since the conflict with Iran erupted nearly a month ago, US financial markets have been violently whipsawed not by macroeconomic data, but by presidential Truth Social posts and quips.—
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld,
Fortune,
26 Mar. 2026
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Cyrus also answers questions by Cooper candidly throughout the special, firing off rapid quips.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Bovino flailed back at every affront instead of focusing on his mission, not realizing his recklessness was eroding public support for his cause and threatening it altogether.—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Mar. 2026
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Any tension between them, though, stems from personal affronts, while their ideological differences exist as a largely unremarked upon undercurrent.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
25 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Taunt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/taunt. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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